Data Sheet FCPHASESEN
PhaseSep® Coalescer
Effectively Separates Liquid/Liquid
Dispersions
Introduction
The inability to efficiently separate liquid/liquid emulsions
can be a very costly problem in the oil, gas and chemical
industries. Liquid contamination can cause final products
to be off-specification, rapid deactivation of downstream
catalysts, corrosion of downstream storage facilities, and
increased costs for wastewater treatment.
Separating liquid/liquid dispersions can be difficult
depending on the physical properties of the two liquid
phases. The specific gravity, viscosity and interfacial
tension (IFT) of the two liquid phases are important
parameters in determining how easy two liquids can
be separated. Conventional coalescers begin to lose
efficiency when the IFT gets below 20 dyne/cm. In
addition, efficient separation is a function of the compatibility of the liquids with the coalescer medium. A good
coalescing medium is not necessarily compatible with
the liquids and a compatible medium is not necessarily
a good coalescing medium.
Pall’s PhaseSep® coalescer is available in several types
of high efficiency coalescing medium which ensures
that a Pall coalescer can be specified for virtually any
liquid/liquid separation application in the oil, gas and
chemical industries.
Typical Applications for PhaseSep
Coalescers
• Removal of carried-over caustic from refinery fuels
downstream of caustic treating processes
• Separation of oil from water
• Removal of water and caustic from online analyzer
sampling systems
• Separation of water from hydrogen peroxide working
solutions
• Separation of hydrogen peroxide working solutions from
hydrogen peroxide
PhaseSep Liquid/Liquid Coalescer
The Pall PhaseSep system is a multiple stage system
starting with filtration to remove particulate matter*,
followed by either a one-stage or two-stage coalescer
stack to separate the two liquid phases. PhaseSep
coalescers will remove a liquid contaminant to a level of
15 ppmv and below over a wide range of conditions
such as:
• Inlet liquid contaminant concentration as high as 10%
• Interfacial tension greater than 0.5 dyne/cm
• Removal of carried-over amine from hydrocarbon
downstream of a liquid/liquid amine contactor
• Removal of oil from ammonia
• Separation of pyrolysis gas from quench water in
ethylene plants
MEMS Sampling
*Pall recommends using Pall Ultipleat® High Flow filters with Ultipor® GF medium
(β10 µm = 5000) or Pall filters with Epocel® medium (β10 µm = 5000) as a
prefilter to extend the life of the PhaseSep coalescer. Consult a Pall distributor
to determine compatibility with a specific fluid.
Description
A Pall PhaseSep system is available in two different
configurations. Both configurations begin with a filtration
stage to remove solid contaminants.
PhaseSep
coalescer
integrated
stack
Prefiltration
Due to the fine pore structure of the coalescer medium,
Pall recommends that a prefilter be installed upstream of
the coalescer assembly. Removal of solids performs the
following important functions:
1) Extends the life of the coalescer significantly
Coalescer
Pall
prefilter
Separator
2) Reduces particulate concentration meeting fluid
specifications
3) Decreases stability of the liquid/liquid emulsion, thereby
making liquid/liquid separation easier
Two different housing configurations are available for
PhaseSep coalescers. Table 1 provides guidelines for
selection.
Table 1: Coalescer Selection Guide
Process Condition
Recommended Product
Dispersed phase fluid is
aqueous IFT> 3 dyne/cm
PhaseSep coalescer/separator
stack in a vertical housing
Dispersed phase fluid is
aqueous IFT< 3 dyne/cm
PhaseSep coalescer without
separator in a horizontal housing
Both fluids are nonaqueous
PhaseSep coalescer without
separator
Dispersed phase fluid is
oil, continuous phase
fluid is aqueous
PhaseSep coalescer in a
horizontal housing without
separator
PhaseSep Coalescer/Separator Stack—
Vertical Housing Setup
Pall’s PhaseSep coalescer/separator stack should be used
when the contaminant is an aqueous liquid such as water,
caustic, or an amine solution and when the IFT is greater
than 3.0 dyne/cm. (see Figure 1). Using Pall’s coalescer/
separator stack in Pall’s unique vertical housing design is
the most efficient technique for separating two liquids
meeting the above criteria. The liquid/liquid mixture enters
the coalescing element and flows inside to outside. This is
where small liquid droplets suspended in the continuous
phase come together, or coalesce, as the mixture moves
through Pall’s proprietary coalescer medium.
Contaminant-free liquid and large droplets of the dispersed
phase flow toward the separator located directly below the
coalescer stage. The flow is outside to inside. The
separator medium is hydrophobic preventing the aqueous
phase from entering the separator. Only the non-aqueous
continuous phase fluid flows through the separator. The
two liquids are removed by separate drain connections.
Fuel or
chemical
with water
and solids
Fuel or
chemical
and water
without
dirt
Aqueous
phase out
Water free
fuel or
chemical
out
Figure 1: PhaseSep Liquid/Liquid Separation System with an Integrated
Coalescer/Separator Stack in a Vertical Housing with a Prefilter
PhaseSep Coalescer —
Horizontal Housing Setup
In general, a PhaseSep coalescer without a separator is
placed in a horizontal housing (see Figure 2). Pall’s PhaseSep
coalescer should be used in applications to separate nonaqueous liquid contaminants such as removing oil from
water or separating two non-aqueous liquids. In addition,
for liquids with ultra-low IFTs (less than 3.0 dyne/cm.), a
PhaseSep coalescer installed in a horizontal housing will
provide maximum liquid/liquid separation efficiency.
In a horizontal housing, the liquid/liquid mixture enters the
coalescing element and flows inside to outside. As is the
case with the coalescer/separator stack, small liquid
dispersed phase droplets suspended in the continuous
phase come together, or coalesce, as the mixture moves
through the PhaseSep coalescer. The large coalesced
droplets of the dispersed phase separate by gravity in the
horizontal housing and are removed. The size of the housing
is a function of the IFT, viscosity, and specific gravity of the
liquids.
Pall prefilter
Fuel or chemical with liquid
or solid contaminants
PhaseSep coalescer
Fuel or chemical with liquid
contaminants without dirt
Continuous phase contaminant free
Liquid contaminant
(dispersed phase) out
Figure 2: PhaseSep Liquid/Liquid Separation System with Coalescer in a Horizontal Housing
with a Prefilter
Benefits
• Improved Fluid Quality and Value: The superior liquid
and particulate removal efficiency reduces incidents of
off-spec product thereby saving reprocessing, downgrade
and transportation costs. In addition, carried over liquid
contaminants can cause costly corrosion problems in
downstream equipment and can rapidly deactivate
expensive catalysts in downstream processes.
• Low-Cost Liquid and Solids Removal: Due to the
PhaseSep coalescer’s long life and superior liquid
removal efficiency, the overall cost of contaminant
removal is low even when compared to other less
efficient methods like salt driers, electrostatic separators
and sand filters. Used in conjunction with these other
removal techniques, the PhaseSep system will
significantly reduce operating costs.
• High-Performance Stack Design Results in Smaller
Assembly Size: The high performance PhaseSep
system stack design promotes even flow distribution
permitting a high rate of flow. As a result, fewer separator
cartridges are required and this results in a small
economic assembly size.
• Lower Disposal and Maintenance Costs: The long
useful life of the PhaseSep cartridges obtained from
Pall’s specially formulated medium and prefilter results in
fewer cartridge changeouts, reducing maintenance and
changeout costs and cartridge disposal costs.
• Quick Recovery from Process Upsets: Pall’s vertical
vessel/stack design is much more forgiving when it
comes to changes in process conditions. The
PhaseSep coalescer system stack recovers quickly
from slug conditions where there is an increase in liquid
contaminant concentration.
• Separation of Ultra-Low IFT Emulsions: PhaseSep
coalescers have excellent coalescing properties, which
can separate liquids that have ultra-low IFTs that are
unable to be separated by conventional coalescers. With
the combination of the PhaseSep coalescer and Pall’s
specially designed horizontal housing, the PhaseSep
system has separated liquid/liquid emulsions with an IFT
greater than 0.5 dyne/cm. Conventional coalescers begin
to rapidly lose separation efficiency when the IFT gets
below 20 dyne/cm.
Features
• Unique Stack Design: Pall’s coalescer element is
stacked on top of a separator element. This unique
configuration optimizes the flow distribution from the
coalescer to the separator, ensuring that each separator
has an equal flow. In conventional two-stage systems,
the separators are located at different distances from the
coalescer, causing an unequal distribution of flow to the
separator. These conventional two stage systems require
several coalescer elements for each separator. Pall’s
stack design results in overall smaller assembly size and
a longer coalescer/separator life.
• Fluid Compatibility: Pall’s PhaseSep coalescer is
available in several different materials to insure
compatibility with virtually any type of liquid/liquid mixture.
• Non-Disarming Medium: Pall’s non-disarming medium
ensures the longest possible service life. Pall’s specially
formulated medium contains no glass fiber and does not
disarm in the presence of surfactants. Disarming occurs
when surfactants (either natural or additives) “coat” the
surface of the medium thereby reducing the coalescing
properties of the medium and the separation efficiency.
Performance Claims and Specifications
Maximum operating temperature:
149°C/ 300°F
Initial pressure drop:
0.138 bard /2 psid
Recommended changeout:
1.033 bard/15 psid
Ordering Information
Part
Number
Description
Outer Diameter
(cm/in)
Length
(cm/in)
LCS2H1AH
PhaseSep
Coalescer
9.53/ 3.75
50.8/ 20
LCS4H1AH
PhaseSep
Coalescer
9.53/ 3.75
101.6/ 40
LSS2F1H
Separator
9.53/3.75
50.8/20
Compatibility
The PhaseSep coalescer is compatible with many
corrosive chemicals encountered in the chemical and
petrochemical industries like strong mineral and
oxidizing acids, alkalies, metal etchants, liquid oxygen
and essentially all organic solvents. For compatibility
information with a specific chemical, please contact
your Pall distributor or applications engineer.
Fuels and Chemicals
25 Harbor Park Drive
Port Washington, NY 11050
+1 516 484 3600
telephone
+1 888 873 7255
toll free US
Portsmouth - UK
+44 (0)23 9233 8000 telephone
+44 (0)23 9233 8811 fax
industrialeu@pall.com
Visit us on the Web at www.pall.com
Pall Corporation has offices and plants throughout the world. For Pall representatives
in your area, please go to www.pall.com/contact
Because of technological developments related to the products, systems, and/or
services described herein, the data and procedures are subject to change without
notice. Please consult your Pall representative or visit www.pall.com to verify that
this information remains valid. Products in this document may be covered by one
or more patent numbers. For a complete list of Pall’s patents, please visit
www.pall.com/main/about-pall/patents.page 000
© Copyright 2002, 2015, Pall Corporation. Pall,
, Epocel, PhaseSep, Ultipleat, and Ultipor are
trademarks of Pall Corporation. ® indicates a trademark registered in the USA. Filtration.
Separation. Solution.SM and BETTER LIVES. BETTER PLANET. are service marks of Pall
Corporation.
FCPHASESEN
Produced in the USA
June 2015